After 18-Hour Talks, U.S. and Iran Agree on Lebanon De-escalation Cell

After 18 hours of talks that ended early Monday, the latest round of U.S.-Iran negotiations concluded with claims of progress toward ending the war in Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said mediation by Qatar and Pakistan produced “significant progress,” including the lifting of a blockade, the release of frozen assets, and the launch of a reconstruction and development program for Iran.

In a joint statement, the mediators said Washington and Tehran agreed on a roadmap for a final deal within 60 days. According to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, technical talks will continue throughout the week at the Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock, which is owned by Qatar. The statement also said the sides agreed on a mechanism to end the fighting in Lebanon and opened a communications channel to help ensure safe passage for commercial vessels through the disputed strait.

The mediators said the two sides agreed to establish an anti-conflict cell in partnership with Lebanon and under mediator supervision to oversee implementation of the end of all military action in Lebanon, without Israel taking part. The talks came after repeated threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to renew strikes on Iran.

The negotiations began Sunday, after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance opened discussions with Iranian officials under a memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend the fragile ceasefire, which began in April, by at least 60 more days. Araghchi later said Iran secured approval for oil and petrochemical exports, release of some frozen assets, and a reconstruction and development plan. Shortly before the formal start of the talks, Fox News reported that Trump warned Iranian officials they would “not have a country” if they tried to close the Strait of Hormuz again, and repeated his threat that the United States would take control of the waterway and impose its own transit fees.